Cranberry Seed Oil & Cranberry Seed Flour Information Site

About Cranberry Seed Extracts

Cranberries have historically been harvested and either ingested as whole berries, such as in cranberry sauce, or have been processed for their juice. The cranberry pulp remaining after cranberry juice extraction processing has historically been regarded as an undesirable waste product with little or no utility and includes cranberry seeds and cranberry fiber not used to make juice.

Cranberries are commonly known for the therapeutic benefits associated with the phenolic antioxidants found within the berry. These compounds have been shown to inhibit certain bacteria from adhering to the wall of the urinary tract. Phenolics and other antioxidants are also known to promote healthy cellular function by reducing free radical damage in the body.

Because of these nutrients, many cranberry products are marketed to promote urinary tract health. The seed extracts deliver a host of important nutritional compounds unlike what is found in the rest of the berry. Cranberry seed extracts tote compounds and benefits similar to other botanical seed extracts such as flax and grape seed extracts.

The cranberry seed is quite small, approximately the size of a standard pinhead. It wasn't until recently that commercial quantities of seeds have been compiled for a beneficial public delivery. Cranberry seeds have traditionally been dumped in landfills (while within standard juice-processed pulp) or separated and used in low value products such as bird seed.

Until recently, the nutritional value of this "waste stream" went relatively unrecognized. As a result of new technologies, we are now reducing waste products from cranberry juice processing.

Cold Expeller Processing

After the cranberry seeds are separated from the cranberry pulp, they are squeezed in a cold expeller press at temperatures not exceeding about 140 degrees F. to obtain cranberry seed oil and cranberry seed flour. The key benefit of using the cold expeller pressing process is that the processed product is not limited to the cranberry seed oil. In addition to cranberry seed oil, the expeller produces a cranberry seed flour (or cranberry seed meal). This result is surprising in that a single process for cranberry waste products yields two beneficial products (flour and oil) each having many uses.

As excessive heat rapidly degrades the phytonutrient profile of both the cranberry seed oil and flour, leaders in cranberry seed processing meticulously monitor the temperature at which the process undergoes. When searching for these extracts, one should compare the specification sheets from the manufacturer to ensure they're receiving the highest quality of the products.

There are numerous other processes commonly used to extract oil from botanical seeds like the cranberry seed. They include: solvent-based extraction, centrifugal, high pressure, osmosis, preheating, and filtration fractionation. Each has distinct disadvantages over cold expeller pressing, primarily in relation to phytonutrient degradation.

Learn about cranberry seed oil

Learn about cranberry seed flour

Additional Information

For a list of products which use cranberry seed extracts, check out the products page.

Disclaimer: No part of this website should be interpreted as medical advice. The science and any claims, whether direct or implied, made about the products, nutrients or extracts on this site have not been evaluated by Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition. As always, consult with your healthcare professional before starting any diet, medication or dietary supplement.